The Pope's 10 Tips On Being Happier Aren't What You Might Expect

You don't have to be religious to see the wisdom in this.

Higher Learning reports that Pope Francis recently gave Argentine newspaper Viva a list of 10 tips for people to become happier...and they're fantastic.

1. Live and let live.

"Here the Romans have a saying that we can follow like a thread: "Go ahead and let others go ahead too." Live and let live, that is the first step towards peace and joy."

2. Be giving of yourself to others.

"if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric," the Pope said. "And stagnant water becomes putrid."

3. Proceed calmly in the world.

Pope Francis mentions a novel by Ricardo Guiraldes in which the protagonist talks of aging.

"He says that in his youth he was a stream full of rocks that he carried with him; as an adult, a rushing river; and in old age, he was still moving, but slowly, like a pool" of water, the pope said. He said he likes this latter image of a pool of water -- to have "the ability to move with kindness and humility, a calmness in life."

4. Have a healthy sense of leisure and play with your kids.

The Pope discussed how consumerism has contributed to the deterioration of healthy leisure: the loss of art, reading, and spending time with one's children.

8. Stop being negative.

"Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, 'I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down.' Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy."

9. Don't proselytize: respect those who think differently.

"We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: 'I am talking with you in order to persuade you,' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity. The church grows by attraction, not proselytizing," he told Viva.

10. Seek peace.

"We are living in a time of many wars," he said, describing global conflicts, "the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive."